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News and Speeches

Chancellor Walcott Announces Expansion Of After School Programs for Students

09/08/2013

Nearly 13 Million Dollar Investment Will Provide 4,000 Additional Seats, Across 30 Neighborhoods and All Five Boroughs for High-Needs Students

Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott today announced a nearly 13 million dollar investment in partnership with New York City’s Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to expand Out-of-School Time (OST), or after school programs, in thirty neighborhoods across New York City. The partnership will increase the number of program seats by 4,000, providing elementary and middle school students in high-needs areas with a mix of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related academic programs, as well as recreational and cultural activities after school. Programs are free of charge and located in all five boroughs. The Chancellor made the announcement while visiting churches throughout the five boroughs on Sunday to welcome students, parents and teachers back to school.

“The expansion of after school program seats fulfills a critical need for hard-working families who may struggle to afford childcare, and offers more of our students high-quality after-school programming that will help them to thrive, said Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott. “ Similar to our expansion in additional full-day pre-kindergarten seats, these investments will pay dividends in our students’ lives for years to come.”

“As our children return to school, we want to support their educational experience with afterschool programs that complement the school day through stimulating STEM activities, cultural enrichment and physical activity,” said DYCD Commissioner Jeanne B. Mullgrav. “In partnership with Chancellor Walcott, the Department of Education and our strong network of community-based organizations, we are delighted to expand these resources for our students as well as their parents, who can feel confident their children are engaged in high-quality, hands-on activities and are well supervised while they are at work.”

The Department of Youth and Community Development will engage Community Based Organizations (CBOs) partners that are already delivering high-quality programs and have demonstrated the capacity to serve more children. Neighborhoods were identified by examining those areas with a high level of economic need, and have limited existing after school programming.

Launched in September 2005, DYCD’s Out-of-School Time (OST) initiative provides a mix of academic, recreational and cultural activities for young people after school, on holidays and during the summer. Programs are located in schools, community centers, settlement houses, religious institutions, cultural organizations, public housing and parks recreational facilities.